Saturday, 12 May 2018

HIV/AIDS: Stakeholders Strategise On Way Forward For Adolescents

By Chioma Umeha

In a effort to build capacity for the
implementation of HIV strategy for Adolescent and Young People, (AYP),
stakeholders are brainstorm on its content and programmes.

Addressing journalists in Lagos the Senior Special
Assistance to the governor of Lagos State on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Fisher
Oladipuposaid “it is due to the
high percentage of prevalence among young people living with HIV that informed
the need to carry out intervention.”

Oladipupo further said that these group of young
people are critical in addressing the spread of the virus and so the need to
focus on them in reducing and mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS in the state.”

Lending her voice, Mrs Ezinne Okey-Uchendu who
represented the Director, Programme Coordination Department of National Agency
for the Control of AIDS, NACA, Dr. Akudo Ikpeazu for the Director General Dr.
Sani Aliyu said at the national level, the HIV plan for Adolescents has been
launched and the agency will ensure that the plan is been adopted by all states
of the Federation.

Aliyu said the strategy covers different areas for
implementation and the plan includes; HIV treatment services, prevention
programme for AYP,we also have
programmes targeting the pregnant AYP and also activities using the minimum
intervention package in addressing the AYP.

He also added that the drugs are accessible using
the different hospitals that are both comprehensive HIV services site?and as well as the primary health care
facility in different states.

In terms of stigmatisation, Aliyu added that? NACA
and state agencies on HIV/AIDs are working to ensure that awareness is
createdand also ensuring that
people get to know the AYP and prevention strategies going forward.

With the gradual withdrawal of donor agencies from
Nigeria, Dr. Aliyu stated that NACA is currently funding Taraba and Abia state
?but there are other activities going on in other state.

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.

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About Me

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.